November 27, 2011

Giant White Squill

I found mine at Lowes, last November. It was a giant, unmarked bulb - orphaned from it's display - which had been taken down and trashed. None of the employees had a clue what to call it, or how to price it. I got it for 5.99 - the price of a potted bulb of another type (daffs?) they were also selling at the time.

One of the other customers said 'Giant Squill,' so when I got home, I looked it up.

This native of the Mediterranean evolved in an arid, winter rain environment. I have to keep mine dry during the monsoon season, which it is not adapted for. In its native habitat it gets up to 12 inches of rain a year. Not so different from our 8 inches or so per year in the Sonoran Desert.

This was its first bloom spray, which I found near impossible to get a decent overall photo. (note to self: work up that idea for a black backdrop photo 'booth' to display individual plants for photos...)

As of this week, it's been sending up the next flush of leaves to gather next year's bloom energy.

I have it in a pot, which is apparently not recommended - as it likes space. You can get an idea on the size of the bulb by this photo...

That's a twelve pound terrier mix, right there. He thinks the Squill is Scary. (Bailey is a Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix)

The nine pound chihuahua wants to know if it is edible? (Hoggle is my guard dog, he makes sure the perimeter is always secure!)

Since these bulbs grow in rocky conditions, I'm hoping the pot I have it in won't be too much of a problem for it. Only time will tell.

Look at how much tap root this bulb had at harvest! That's a lot of removed material.